King: Yankees interested in Michael Young

Via George King: There are indications the Yankees have interest in acquiring infielder Michael Young from the Phillies. The Red Sox are said to be “very interested” as well. Earlier this week we heard the Yankees have “kicked around” the idea of acquiring another Phillie, catcher Carlos Ruiz, but it’s unclear if Philadelphia is ready to start selling off players as they toil in third place in the NL East.

Young, 36, is hitting .289/.348/.412 (110 wRC+) with five homers this year, which would instantly make him New York’s best right-handed hitter. He’s playing third base full-time and he has experience at all four infield spots, though he is a dreadful defensive player. That said, he’s far better than anyone on the Yankees’ infield other than Robinson Cano. Young could play third until Alex Rodriguez returns, then shift over to first and do some right-handed platoon work. The Rangers are paying most of his salary and he’ll become a free agent after the season. Young is a really good fit for this Yankees team.

No, s fair point, but he’d be for one year only.
Just don’t overpay for him

Cool Lester Smooth

“For one year only”

At least until we re-sign him to a two year, $13 million deal in the offseason.

trr

I winced while reading this.

scooter10

I agree. Acquiring Young makes a ton of sense. A lifetime .301/.347/.443 OBP with a +100 OPS this year. We need more guys like that. Cash — make it happen and soon. We’re not out of this thing yet.

dp

Waste of time…this team is done…Hendry time as Cashman needs to be fired.

Pat D

Wait a sec. You want to fire Brian Cashman and have Jim Hendry take over?

Every response I have is insulting so I’ll just say, “Seek help.”

trr

Hendry?
in a word, no.

cody jines

I think its time for the yanks to think about next year and begin to deal off some of their own players! They could get some top prospects for Cano who could shift the power balance in any divisional race.

Pat D

Not really. Teams aren’t going to pay that high a price for a rental to whom they can’t make a qualifying offer and recoup a draft pick.

Thurm

What about selling high on CC Sabathia? They could get a nice heap for CC and if they truly feel they don’t have a WS chance and/or super bright future, then why not take a shot at trading CC to a contender for a heap of prospects and really amp up the farm system?

Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Selling high?
CC’s showing signs of decline, and still has up to 4.5 years at monster $$ remaining on his contract.
And he has a no trade clause. He may be willing to waive it, but I’d guess he’d be picky about where he’s willing to play, lessening his potential market.
Only chance CC returns anything close to a heap of prospects (good prospects anyways) would be if the Yankees were willing to eat a major part of his contract.

Robinson Tilapia

They could get something for CC, but this is not “selling high” by any stretch of the imagination.

Pat D

Guy with a huge contract possibly declining?

That’s not “selling high,” that’s “virtually untradeable.”

trr

No one would take his contract, Thurm, No one.

nycsportzfan

Of course you could get alot for CC. I think you messed up where you said “selling high” though, no? Either way, the yanks would be smart to put CC out there, and I bet alot of teams would give up a solid amount of prospects for him, even now, and even at his money.

The reason? Because theres alot of teams in the hunt for a title, and putting CC as your number 2or3 starter would bolster a teams depth of the rotation ten fold. Also, theres tons of GM’s who do anything to WIN now, when they got a chance, so would sell some of there system to give themselves a better chance of winning right now.

Tags

I always hear that but the Mets got Zach Wheeler from the Giants as a rental, and he had it in his contract that they couldn’t make a qualifying offer.

Gonzo

The one thing is that Zack Wheeler was #55 pre-season prospect by BA that year. He was the #31 mid-season prospect by Keith Law that year too.

Would we love that trade if the Mets got Keith Law’s #32 mid-season prospect that year Mike Montgomery? Or #34 prospect Dellin Betances?

I’m not trashing the deal. I’m just pointing out the context in that trade.

Gonzo

Shoot I just realized that BA had Betances and Montgomery ranked ahead of Wheeler in their 2011 mid-season list. How about that.

Pat D

I wouldn’t call that the norm, however.

Gonzo

Well, to be honest I’m sure everyone would be very upset if Cano netted them a pitcher that hasn’t reached AA or cracked top 30 on the big 3 mid-season lists in the year he was traded. And even then people thought that was a bad trade for the Giants.

Pat D

All true. But if I’m going to consider trading Cano, I want a package. Not one single guy.

vicki

i got your package.

okay, actually i don’t. some jokes are reflex.

Pat D

For shame.

Gonzo

Yes, I think Mike Montgomery and Dellin Betances ranked so closely to Wheeler highlights the risk of just one prospect.

Shoot, I remember the Mets fans getting excited when they though they were getting Gary Brown. It’s not just pitchers.

dp

The Brewers did well selling off Greinke last year…

Pat D

That’s because Jerry DiPoto is proving to be a very bad GM.

And it’s not like that trade evaluation period is over. Yes, the Angels got nothing out of it. But the guys the Brewers got aren’t firmly established just yet.

entonces

Here’s my take — and maybe it’s a minority view:
The problem with dealing Cano, Grandy, Hughes etc. is that the entire Yankee organization — and much of its fan base — is in denial, refusing to acknowledge that this team needs a total rebuild. Take a cue from Ainge in Boston who made the tough decision to blow it all up and start the rebuild. But Yanks refuse to accept the price of even one down year — though next year seems locked in as such with 189 budget. The longer management fools itself and the fans the longer it will take to recover with a legit contending team. Time for some realism — and some gutsy moves — neither of which seem in evidence in Bronx.

http://www.twitter.com/matt__harris Matt :: Sec110

NBA and MLB is apples to oranges. While they Yanks are focusing on the 189 self imposed budget, they don’t have to worry about a true salary cap like there is in the NBA.

entonces

Apples to oranges makes sense when they’re both rotting out

bpdelia

First off the rotting come back was good. But I think the difference here I is that the Yankees have a at least decent farm with players that are close. 2 seasons away. I with the massive revenue advantage the Yankees have (though admittedly are becoming less comfortable leveraging it) allows them the luxury or retooling. They can keep Cano and develop kids while running 80 to 85 games this year and next. Integrate the kids and then fill out anywhere they want with money. Only a handful of teams have that luxury. The team isn’t doomed and dreadful. Its shit but is salvageable. The odds of any package of kids out valuing Cano over the next five years is so slim. The don’t NEED salary relief. Just keep the player and retool

Mikhel

The scouting department is not very good good, the yankees suck developing players and promoting them. The last time they had a good crop of youngsters was both because they had shitty years and could draft higher (and wisely with G. Michaels) and others were developed in hispanoamérica (Puerto Rico).

In the Cashman years they’ve drafted unpolished players with raw talent (but they suck at developing them), their international scouting has mostly disappeared (curiously coincides with Puerto Rico’s baseball crash, fueled nowadays by their players requiring to enter the amateur baseball draft, but similarly they’ve been mostly absent from countries producing ballplayers like: México, Dominicana, Venezuela, Japan and Korea), and on top of that when they promote young players is because they already are two years away from their prime years in their late 20’s instead of promoting them earlier so they can learn.

Mikhel

Easierto rebuild when 3 guys can make a difference, in baseball you need more than three players.

vicki

boston’s going to be paying wallace green and courtney lee $25M in 2015/16. some re-build.

Cool Lester Smooth

The problem with dealing them all is that it’s fucking stupid, and the Yanks are an above-.500 team with a decent chance of making the playoffs.

The real issue with much of the Yankees’ fanbase is that they are spoiled brats who think the team is doomed because they’re only 5 games above .500 while playing without their starting or backup SS, 3B and 1B, and without their starting CF (LF, really).

It’s weird, and a little sad that people aren’t impressed by how well the Yankees have done considering the circumstances.

Henry Krinkle

+1, you’re wise and not just for an Eagle fan.

John C

I think it’s time for you to go root for another team, quitter!!

John C

Time for you to root for another team you quitter!!

Robinson Tilapia

I’m fine with vicki staying right here.

Pat D

I don’t think that was directed at vicki.

vicki

yeah, i’m no quitter. ardent fanaticism and soul-twisting despair are not mutually exclusive. rocked yankee pride in the south before the dynasty years.

Robinson Tilapia

*raises glass*

scooter10

Here’s where Young would sit on the OPS chart based on performance this year. We could use Ruiz as well but between the two I would take Young for his versatility.

So basically he becomes Youkilis without being hated. 3rd base until/if ARod and then platoon at 1B and DH and gone at the end of the year. Exactly what Youkilis was supposed to be. Sold.

scooter10

Difference between Young and Youkilis — Young has played 155+ games for 10 of the last 11 years. He’s way more durable. Not to mention, he also can play 2B/SS if necessary.

Jonathan

yeah like Mo can play CF if necessary. The other big difference is Young is kinda missing that whole power/patience combo that is normally a good thing.

Robinson Tilapia

The guys out there right now can’t even claim that.

vicki

only brett gardner ranks top 50 p/pa in the league, at 16 with 4.15. ichi and vern are at the bottom. in fact, among qualified players, only omar infante sees fewer pitches than vernon wells. seriously, wellsie, how do you do that? it takes at least three pitches to strike out.

Cool Lester Smooth

I think he’s talking about in comparison to Youk.

scooter10

Youkilis has NEVER played 150 games in a season…. ever.

Pat D

Young makes sense on paper, maybe.

Then as soon as he’s acquired and you start moving him around the infield, he’ll start bitching and moaning about how they’re not treating him with respect.

Also, don’t he and ARod have bad blood?

TomH

Much turns on what they would have to give up. Is Young going to keep them close enough to Boston, Baltimore, and Toronto to make it plausible that the Return of the Wounded will permit the Yanks to get to the postseason?

I guess that depends on how confident you are that Jeter and ARod will be recognizable when they come back. Granderson + Young don’t seem likely to do the trick. Recognizable versions of Jeter and ARod are essential.

To help some other team long term by giving them quality prospects in order maybe to get the Yankees to the postseason seems very risky.

Young makes clearer sense for the Sox, who have a better team and a more realistic shot at the post-season than the Yankees.

BUT however, nevertheless, and on the other hand: maybe Cashman just couldn’t take the sight of repetitions of last night’s infield. That I can understand.

http://www.twitter.com/matt__harris Matt :: Sec110

I’m not sure Young alone would cost them ‘quality prospects’.

Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)

Yeah, he’s worth getting, but not enough of a difference maker to give up anything significant for, especially for an older rental player.

http://www.twitter.com/matt__harris Matt :: Sec110

Yes, please…go get him and Chooooooooooooooooch!

What would it cost? Can’t think it would be a whole lot.

http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

For a B prospect and the rest of this years salary? Sure!

But otherwise…..

bpdelia

If we are talking Warren or one of the ridiculous plethora of rp prospects absolutely. For Ruiz and young id be willing to go nova, b prospect and kahnle

David

Finally, the Yankees are going with a little more youth, by acquiring someone…”Young”

Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

First of all, we’re not even close to being “over” this season and it would be dumb to give up.

Second, getting Young would be AWESOME.

Dale Mohorcic

I’ve had many visceral “ugh, not that fucking guy” reactions to the players the Yankees have been linked to and/or acquired this year. But then I realize that the “not that fucking guy” is much better than the crap that’s being run out there every day and I end up talkng myself into the idea of acquiring Michael Young or Carlos Ruiz or Vernon Wells or Alberto Gonzalez. Well, maybe not Wells. That juxtaposition really puts into perspective just how awful this team has been other than the pitching and 2 offense side players. How in the hell is this team even playing .500 ball? Other than Cano and Gardner, who have struggled against lefties, the rest of the offense is just DFA level crap laying around that any team could have. This isn’t a bad team where suddenly everyone fell off a cliff because in this case everyone is just hurt and we don’t know if they have fallen off a cliff. This isn’t a bad team of rebuilding where minor leaguers are struggling in their shot at the bigs. This is a bad team of stuff found at the league junkyard playing AAAA level baseball as placeholders for the real guys-it’s half a scab team without a strike. I realize I’m just stating the obvious, but every time I see one of the guys the Yankees are linked to like Young who is past his prime and have that “ugh, not that guy reaction,” it makes me a little less attached to the team because so many of these guys have a shelf life of mere weeks or months. I’ll still watch every game and read the blogs and watch the standings and root for the sux to lose, but I may stop paying attention to the names and just start calling guys either “washed up big contract guy” or “DFA as soon as someone comes back healthy guy”. I guess I have been spoiled as a Yankees fan.

http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

The answer is prior to Memorial Day, pitchers have the advantage. After that, ball start flying out of yards. April and May worked well for the team that depends on pitching, so they built themselves a nice cushion.

Now, when teams depend more on offense than the Spring months – those teams will falter.

Robinson Tilapia

Not to mention guys that should be playing part-time get exposed more and more when you play them full-time as the season rolls on.

Robinson Tilapia

Well, what’s the price tag?

If you need someone to get you through the rest of the season, he would certain meet that requirement. The question is what we’d be giving up.

Perhaps someone could construct that third baseman of the future that’s ready now in their home lab. Since I’m not counting on that happening, your choices are what you see now and pray for Alex, or do something.

But they should have done blah blah blah last year and blah blah blah five years ago….

all are rumored to be available. 4 of the 5 are RHH with Morales a SWH.

3B is an issue . Morales would make Overbay a goner. Rios would with Granderson returning make a much stronger OF, move Granderson to LF with Ichiro then becoming the 4th OF . Release Wells. Both Young and Ramirez would move Nix to the bench where he belongs and Adams back to the minors or as a trade chip.

More than anything I would be happy with an IF upgrade.

Robinson Tilapia

Sure. Again, all about price tag. There’s only so many Mikey O’Briens I can fit in this box.

Kosmo

obviously.

Mikhel

Defense is as important as offense (if not more), it sucks to have an OF with players with crappy throws and who can’t field. Relegating Ichiro to the bench only shows how little you know about baseball, Ichiro is way more valuable than what Axisa thinks and says, his defense can save runs and his throws make runners think twice about advancing extra bases, with Gardner+Granderson it is a “take an extra base” festival, and with Ríos even more so (fields OK but has a bad uneducated throw).

Same at 1B, Kendry’s bat is very very good compared with Overbay, but his defense is subpar and when he “runs” I think he might be related to the pot-bellied Molinas.

The NYY need somebody like Hunter Pence in the OF to replace Wells and Granderson’s production (Pence produces the same as Granderson and it is way better at fielding).

Brian S.

I guess I’m the only one that wants to do what Boston did last year. The Yankees have had a winning team ever since I was 3. I’m down for a losing season if it means we can sell off some pieces for future returns.

Brian S.

I know Teixeira and A-Rod are unmovable. But we could acquire some nice prospects for CC, Cano, Kuroda, Gardner, Robertson, Granderson, Pettitte, Rivera, and find a team that would just take Ichiro. Sell Joba, Overbay, and Hafner for anything you can get. I think the Yankees could get more from a qualifying offer for Hughes. Now you guys can yell at me for suggesting a rebuild.

http://twitter.com/matt__harris Matt :: Sec110

stop, just stop….you’re giving me a headache.

Pat D

I won’t yell at you for suggesting a rebuild. I’ll yell at you for the specific suggestions you made here. What you suggested here says that the Yankees should field what amounts to the 1962 Mets going forward.

Mikhel

In al fairness, they are doing that right now.

Robinson Tilapia

What fun is it if you’re already expecting it, Brian?

TomH

If they find someone who will offer good prospects for Pettitte and Rivera, they should not conclude the deal before also selling them the Brooklyn Bridge.

Besides the NYY don’t need “prospects”, they need players already in the majors, if they get prospects they’ll only send them to the minors for 2-3 years until their fire dies.

I think the right moves before this season were:

Trade Granderson, keep Swisher, acquire Young or Kinsler (or both), get Napoli (DH), Pierzinsky (a 1 year catcher to backup Cervelli) and try to acquire either Jorge De La Rosa or Yovanni Gallardo (but that’s because I’d love to see mexicans playing again with the NYY, and Jorge’s wife is very funny when you chat with her).

Sadly I think the only thirdbaseman the NYY will get is “el cochito” Luis Cruz (he is very good but it is in a year long slump: he’s been having personal troubles and I THINK he is injuried though he has not said it because he wants to play).

Gonzo

Absolutely made up trade that has no chance of being accepted alert. Just BSing here guys. Do not take this seriously.

I have little experience with non-beer alcohol, so I defer to your judgment.

But no drunken trade proposals!

Gonzo

Wait till later in the day when I throw out a Girardi trade. I’m fine Occifer.

Robinson Tilapia

My favorite mixer.

Ron

So now you want Michael Young but before the season when i said that we need more average hitters and that he would be a perfect fit. Axisa was all “he sucks, he is old, defense range Blah blah blah”(useless nerd stats)

Beltran sucks too right. injury prone right, good thing we didn’t sign him 2 years ago and kept swisher and had to trade for ichiro. More insight please.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Obviously the team’s situation has changed dramatically the last few months, but thanks for your insight.

Dan in Athens

How much do the Yanks have to give up for Young? What about Young and Utley (1B this year and a qualifying offer next year for a plan B if Cano wants too much cash)?

Robinson Tilapia

Once it’s on the Internet, time freezes.

VOIII

Problem is that Boston wants Young too, this may cause bidding war and and an over pay… This team is going nowhere even if you could add Miggy right now.

It is best to sell off assets and retool for next year. Hughes can still bring a decent return from a savy NL club that realises he’ll perform better in bigger park and not facing a DH every 5 days. Cano can still bring something better than a supplemental pick that will be received when he leaves in the fall. He’d be crazy to re-up with this mess right now and he knows it. Yeah I know they’re only a couple of games out, but that’s because they played over their heads in April. Anyone who thinks this team will be that much better when Jeter gets back is in for a rude awakening.

An overhaul is long overdue… Just take look back at how tired this old team looked against the Tigers in the ACLS last year. Where is the next big thing in the system? where is a Harvey, a Trout, a Harper, a Stanton etc ? It seems every other ML club has an up and coming star that they can build around… the Yankees no so much.

Kosmo

Boston doesn´t really need Young.

Robinson Tilapia

Sure they do. WMB’s in AAA and you could always use the extra vet bat off the bench during the stretch run.

Cool Lester Smooth

The Yanks did not have an opportunity to draft any of the players you listed other than Stanton.

And 2007 is the year that a unanimous top 10 talent fell to us because he was getting Tommy John.

Robinson Tilapia

“It seems every other ML club has an up and coming star that they can build around…”

Name them.

RetroRob

I will root for him to have a strong finish if he is traded to the Yankees, also recognizing the Ichiro-factor, increasing the potential the Yankees will then decide to sign him in the offseason instead of just gratefully accepting a nice couple months of baseball.

vicki

that your mind even goes there.

RetroRob

Vicki, my mind goes to many strange places. This was the safest one to disclose.

vicki

fair enough. i’m generally unshockable, but i don’t want to hear anything more nightmarish than this.

Robinson Tilapia

Consider the money potential in “Forever Young” shirts for 2014. Alphaville could come out of retirement and play a show at the stadium. It just prints mon…..yeah, never mind.

JerryJRC

NYY going after Young?

Time NYY become sellers….oh wait….they have nothing to sell!!!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAA!!!!!

Should have traded Adams for Lee years ago!

BFDeal

If you’re going to troll, at least get your trade history correct.

JerryJRC

Adams was the hold up in the Lee trade.

He was injured.

Do not know what you are talking about!

Good. Thing for NYY…..another Stud from the farm system!

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Yes, he was the hold up because he injured, not because the Yankees wouldn’t give him up. They were very willing to give him up, hence his inclusion in the trade in the first place.

Robinson Tilapia

#wejustventin

http://www.penuel-law.com/ Cuso

Sell, sell, sell out of desperation? People have this warped image based on what the Dodgers and Blue Jays did last year with taking on loads of payroll. The fact it happened once was rare. That it happened twice in such a short span of time is borderline inconceivable.

That team to take a massive pay dump is not out there. You’re not getting near to half value for Cano either. Nobody is taking on CC’s contract….and if they did, we get nothing but middling prospects back.

If you want a trade so bad, you need to hope that Hughes strings together 4 great starts from here on out and you MIGHT get a decent prospect from a NL contender.

Robinson Tilapia

I think you could get better than middling prospects for CC, but you’re not getting a package that makes worth trading him at all.

Some folks are dying for the Yankees to do this type of true rebuilding other franchises do, and I sincerely doubt any of us see that happening anytime soon. Rebuilding is going to look differently when you’re the New York Yankees.

TomH

Probably true. However, if they wait too long to start rebuilding they will do it just like everyone else, slowly and painfully.

Robinson Tilapia

When have we known for them to ever do that, though? Would you consider the late 60’s or early 90’s actual rebuilding periods?

Pat D

The late 60s wasn’t such a rebuilding period as it was insignificant. They did actually field a few decent teams in those years, they just didn’t win the division ever.

They were basically the Blue Jays from the last 10-15 years.

Cool Lester Smooth

Of course, those same folks will be the ones complaining the loudest when they suck during said full rebuild.

Robinson Tilapia

It’s survivor’s guilt, really.

There’s a fantasy of really, really sucking (which is worse than the current level of sucking, although goddamn….) because you’re a fan of a team that consistently wins while watching others never win.

Robinson Tilapia

There were folks who wanted to rebuild in 2005, in 2008 and, I’m sure, other points. Hearing “sell them off now!” is not a new concept.

Cool Lester Smooth

Well then, I’ll just take this opportunity to assure everyone that, as an Eagles fan, I can say that being awful for a year and getting a high draft pick is really, really overrated.

Cool Lester Smooth

Even if it is going to be fun to watch Lane and his big, swinging Johnson make JPP his bitch for the next 10 years.

Pat D

You hope.

Cool Lester Smooth

I believe, dammit!

vicki

bless your heart.

Tyrone Sharpton

wow, that made me realize this team has no really viable RH hitter at the moment. who’s the best righty? wellsie? ouch

Gonzo

If they trade for Young, the Yankee’s would have an 80 Classy rating.

vicki

deduct points for cashman outburst.

brian

Cursing was uncool but you can understand Cashman’s outrage… the Yankees were planning full scale insurance fraud… how dare Arod jeopardize that by actually wanting to play

/extreme sarcasm

Pat D

I’m assuming this is sarcasm.

vicki

i’m certain not. michael young is considered to be a good guy. put him in a clubhouse with jeter, grandy and wells, you get a lot of likable. (and we tried to get chipper to come out of retirement.)

Pat D

I don’t believe that about Young.

vicki

never met him, but he’s certainly a Clubhouse Guy all-star. and of course his charm and grace grew exponentially when he got kicked out of the city he played for his entire career. the sainted martyr.

but maybe you know something i don’t.

Cool Lester Smooth

He was far, far less gracious about his diminishing role than Jorge Posada was, to put it lightly.

vicki

that’s ‘bad behavior’ i always forgive. it’s got to be complicated, getting older, when you’ve traded on the gifts of youth. if your whole identity has been playing the game, who are you when it’s time to hang it up? makes people crazy.

brian

Young’s a good fit with this team…. he’ll hit LHP well and he’s not much against RHP but far from an automatic out against them… he can play all 4 infield positions (not well, but he can play them and won’t kill you, thats crucial)… and he garners a lot of respect around the league and with Girardi/Jeter… which can’t hurt

By no means a cure all… but someone I’ve always admired and would be happy to root for for a few months, just don’t resign him

forensic

Indications? Oh, There are indications that they’re interested?

Is this really what qualifies as news now (not necessarily just in terms of this post, more in terms of an actual article, before people go into high-speed wobbles)? He doesn’t even have some anonymous ‘industry source’ saying anything on the matter.

So, I guess those indications would be that he’s breathing and passes the absurdly low test of ‘better than Nix/Adams/Gonzalez/vsleftyOverbay”.

This should make for another 50-100 easy articles for King to just insert-name-here.

This kind of stuff seems so pointless to me.

I have a feeling this trade deadline is going to be really annoying, just like it is around the winter meetings (and often the trade deadline, but this one will be even worse in terms of the Yankees) on MLBTR when there are constantly conflicting reports coming out every 3 minutes and they all have to be posted.

/endrant

Pat D

#wejustventin

vicki

notes from the muttsies game: nats are less fun to watch without redneck jesus. and mex really needs to grow the stache back.

Cool Lester Smooth

Seriously, Bryce needs to come again. (He’s back on Monday!)

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